Chapman hosts first Undocumented Student Conference
From left to right: Sammie Jimenez, Jesus Sanchez, Jess Salgado and Daniel Leon-Barranco, who attended the UndocuAlly workshop hosted by the Cross Cultural Center. Photo by GABRIELLA ANDERSON, Staff Photographer
When Chapman alumna Arely Escoto was in high school, she was not aware that she was undocumented.
“I learned about my lack of status when I was applying to college and I was applying for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They let me know my social security number (SSN) wasn’t valid,” Escoto said. “I had a SSN because I had migrated legally, but my conditional residency expired, so I became undocumented.”
Relief, happiness and tears were just some of the emotions Escoto and her family felt when she received her permanent residency her senior year at Chapman. Escoto, who graduated in 2019, attended the first Undocumented Student Conference in Argyros Forum Sept. 28.
“The event is really important,” Escoto said. “I used to be undocumented, so I feel like it’s a great resource for a lot of students who don’t have those resources and lacking information and lacking people to connect with in terms of talking about what’s possible in terms of opportunity.”
As an undocumented college student, Escoto faced difficulties – including receiving financial aid and connecting with people. She told The Panther that even though she wasn’t “outright telling people” her status, it was a consistent challenge.
Basti Lopez, the event’s organizer, a graduate student in the master’s program leadership development and a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, has faced struggles affording higher education.
“It’s difficult not being eligible for financial aid. My tuition comes out of my pocket. I get paid and I’m like, ‘Here goes my paycheck,” Lopez said. “Some of us were privileged in being eligible for DACA and can work. You can see the difference if you ask a DACA recipient, ‘What has been your experience now that you have a work permit?’ I can almost bet dollars that they are going to say it’s changed so much and (brought) opportunities.”
Gloria Montiel, the keynote speaker at the event, was the first student from Santa Ana High School to attend Harvard College. She spoke to the crowd about her experience as an undocumented student and the loneliness she felt not being able to tell her peers of her immigration status. Other speakers included Dean of Students Jerry Price and Representative Lou Correa of California’s 46th district. Correa spoke to the crowd in both English and Spanish.
“Immigration is an issue I’m very passionate about; helping dreamers is one of my top priorities,” Correa told The Panther. “Chapman is the only university in my district, so I try really hard to focus on Chapman. I want to be here to support the dreamers in any way possible, especially with presence, letting them know they are not alone in this battle. Immigration is an American issue. It’s important that Americans recognize that we are a country of immigrants and it’s not a Mexican or Latino issue.”
After the speakers, attendees went to three workshop sessions which included a variety of resources such as the services of the Mexican Consulate, information about The American Dream and Promise Act, information from the Office of Financial Aid and UndocuAlly workshop, hosted by the Cross-Cultural Center (CCC).
“The workshop gives strategies for being supportive and being an ally for the community,” said Justin Koppelman, the associate director of Student Engagement. “The last couple of years, the question about what would happen to DACA elevated a sense of urgency to figure out how we can support undocumented students.”
Jesus Sanchez, a junior Spanish major, attended the workshop because it was an opportunity to expand his knowledge on the topic and learn how to be an ally.
“I have family members who are undocumented, friends and recently met another friend from Chapman, who is undocumented,” Sanchez said. “When we compared our financial aid letters because of a late scholarship I didn’t receive, I realized he wasn’t getting the aid that students deserve. I thought this workshop would help me help him and other students and individuals in my community.”
Daniel Leon-Barranco, a sophomore psychology major, shared a similar sentiment.
“Many people I’ve grown up with have been undocumented: family, friends, classmates and neighbors,” he said. “I strive to learn how to be a better advocate and ally for marginalized communities.”
The CCC hopes to increase student understanding of policy that impacts the undocumented experience and reinforces the message that if a student is undocumented, they are still a Chapman student.
The Undocumented Student Conference has been in the works since last spring, when Lopez pitched her idea for a conference to Koppelman. Lopez was able to get the CCC, Undocumented Student Issues Forum, the Dean of Students Office, the LatinX staff and faculty forum, among others, to sponsor the event.
“I’m very passionate about this topic. I wanted to bring awareness to private institutions and more programs and services to Chapman,” Lopez said.
Lopez’s frustrations around the uncertainty of being a student in this situation stems from students not knowing “the future political climate.”
“During the 2016 election, the rhetoric that was going on in school and in the news was really difficult to hear and to listen. It was directed at my community and it felt more personal,” Escoto said. “It’s important to talk about how pointed and accusatory the rhetoric is. There is a lot of xenophobic comments. It’s important that people get educated in the topic because it affects everyone.”
Escoto received an email from a professor about the Undocumented Student Conference and decided to attend.
“I thought it was amazing. I didn’t think an event like that could happen at Chapman,” Escoto said.” I know there is a lot of support, but there is also a lot of backlash. The undocumented population was about less than 20 students when I was at Chapman, so to do this, overall it’s a really big step forward.”